‘Twas the night before Christmas with stars in the heaven. The Broncos were hosting at seven and seven.

There was Belichick, the Pats, but no longer Tom Brady. It was now Bailey Zappe, New England’s hopes were Slim Shady.

But the Broncos this season were a bit of a mess. Scaring opponents but still scared of success.

Who starts 1-5 and then goes 6-2? Who hopes for the playoffs when the playoffs are through?

Miami scores 70 like we’re a cheap set of gnomes. We then beat Josh Allen and the great Pat Mahomes?

Credit via Etsy

We choked to the Raiders and that Jets game was foul. Then up by 18 we lose to Sam Howell?

We lost to Josh McDaniels on opening day. The Commanders, Zach Wilson, that’s a Hannukah – Oy vey!

Credit via ESPN

We bring in Sean Payton like he’s some kind of savior. Think he’s old, overpaid, and we hate his behavior. The season’s over, coach sucks, it’s his contract we fear. Now just three more wins and he’s Coach of the Year.

Our quarterback was losing, on a plane with knees high. But with 24 touchdowns he now says, “Let’s Ride! “

Credit via Wikipedia

We dropped every ball, failed to reach our potential. But look at us now, and our turnover differential.

We lose to the Jets without Aaron Rodgers, beat the Chiefs and the Bills, who’s next – the Dodgers?

That win over the Bills was like the 12 Days of Christmas. With 12 men on the field, the missed kick was dismissed.

Tough loss to the Texans, bad loss to the Lions. Jerry Jeudy’s not good, and he’s not even tryin’.

If it wasn’t for Courtland this season would be over. Shoutout to Russ, Pat Surtain, and Justin Simmons, our rover.

We beat Minnesota and Josh Dobbs just by one. We handled the Chargers with Herbert’s season done.

We fall, we get up, and we may hobble some. We get lucky when Deshaun Watson is supposed to play, but instead we get Dorian Thompson-Robinson (Okay, that may have been forced).

But we handled the Browns with dreams still alive, and the Browns are not bad as they sit 9 and 5.

Now we’re three games away from playoff magic dust. We have Payton, and Courtland, Vance Joseph, and Russ. We win games we shouldn’t and lose games that we shan’t. That trade was one-sided, but screw Noah Fant.

And now we play New England who’s 3-11. Belichick is struggling and their QB’s no legend.

We then play the Chargers with Dasher and Vixen. Will they stick with the Stick, or is Will Grier their fixin’?

The last game is in Vegas and it’s our last chance. The payoff, the playoffs, and laps we shall dance. We’ll see Cher, Aguilera, and Rosie O’Donnell. Lose some money, win the game, beating Aiden O’Connell.

We should win ten games if you look at logistics. Analytics, statistics, or just optimistic.

But if you look at our season we seem stuck in between. The squad that gave up 70, or a real playoff team?

Are we a rebuild, a reboot, a player away? Is that player for real, or is it Bobby Boucher?

Credit via Pinterest

A holiday wish for this holiday season. I’d just like three wins and I think that’s in reason.

Now Dasher, now Comet, now Rudolph, now Prancer. Let Russ throw up prayers and may those prayers still be answered.

So, eat with your family and toast with your wine. For we shall soon make the playoffs…

…or go 8-9.

Images via orientaltrading.com, etsy.com, espn.com, Wikipedia.org, pinterest.com

Alan Tapley The Athletic Supporter

Alan Tapley is an educator, author, and blogger who has lived just outside of Boulder for the last twenty years.  His published work includes two novels, two children’s books, a series of cartoons in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, and multiple sports related articles. His love for family and the state of Colorado is only matched by one thing, his passion for sports.  The first baseball game he ever attended was at Wrigley Field, before there were lights.  At the final Bronco game at the old Mile High, he allegedly cut out a piece of his seat in the South stands.  But regardless of being here for the Avalanche’s last Stanley Cup, the Rockies only World Series appearance, and all the Broncos’ Super Bowl Victories, his wife never fails to remind him that he wasn’t at the University of Colorado in 1990, like she was.  The year the Buffs football team won the National Championship